Paula

 

Paula  (MW)

Paula is one of two long-term residents of the Pen 2 cabin;  a slim little calico who can usually be found in one of the upper-level beds.  She arrived with us in 2016, part of a clear-out from the City Shelter of the cats that were considered likely to be unadoptable for one reason or another. They were introduced in a series of three blogs in 2017: the blacks & black/whites, the tabbies, and the calico/tortie/orange cats.

Watching a worm!  (MW)

All were already adults when they arrived, and many of them have passed in the last nine years: tabbies Calvin, Chase and Zivko, lookalikes Kevin & Palma, Tubby, Salina and others. Others have relocated:  Celeste (watch for her upcoming blog) and Sophie the diva; Booty is either tucked in the TeaRoom or bossing Ringo around; peach-coloured Taffy is snug in the DoubleWide.

Paula's home, the Pen 2 cabin   (MW)

Whether indoors or outside, Paula prefers to stay in her own space – a preference she shares with tortie Barbie, on a lower shelf. Both ladies are now seniors, and their original shyness has given way to a tolerance for humans that becomes enthusiasm when we come bearing gifts.

Paula, with her tabby brothers Chase & Calvin  (KN)

When I clean in the back pens on Fridays, pen 2 is my third stop, and the cats have learned that business is the first order of the day – scoop the litter-boxes, check the bedding and shake it out where needed, sweep the floor, refill the bowls.  Delayed gratification is not their favourite thing, though, and there’s some pretty impatient pacing going on before I’m done. Paula and Barbie are always in place – Paula on “her” top shelf, and Barbie snugly in a box one level down.  Company for Paula will vary; for years it was shy Pavel; more recently Chumley has deserted Pen 1, and his brother Siskel, to move in with her.  Sweet tabby Cadbury often shares space; he is less outgoing than his late brother Skittles, but when you catch him in the right mood, he enjoys attention.

Paula knows how to pose!  (MW)

Chicken is definitely the tidbit of choice for Paula, and she is quick to claim her share, especially with all the local interlopers moving in on Pen 2 – Pumpkin, Odin, Cornelius and their buddies all know that I carry handouts.  Cadbury is not a chicken fan, and he gets a few Temptations – which are quickly stolen by Paula if she gets a chance.

Paula  (BC)

On her shelf inside the cabin, Paula is the miniature queen; in the last couple of years she has been venturing out with increasing confidence, but also with a certain lack of tolerance for other cats.  When there is a courtyard gathering of cats looking for handouts, it is noticeable that they leave a clear space around Paula, and that she is not slow to smack an encroaching paw when it comes too close to a tidbit to which she is laying claim.  

Lounging outside - but almost always solo   (MW)

A warning growl is enough to have most of the hopefuls backing off. It’s clear that indoors, where she feels secure, she can be sweet and snuggly with her cabin-mates, but in a more open arena, she is more defensive, and every good former feral knows that looking scary is the best defence.  She’s small, but everything about her says to the other cats, “Don’t mess with me!”

Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Brigid Coult, Karen Nicholson, Michele Wright

Pen 2 cats - 3: Orange Is The New Black?

MW

In the first blog introducing the Pen 2 cats we met the two blacks – Kevin and Palma – and the two tuxedos – Booty and Tubby. Last week’s introduction was to the tabbies: Calvin, Chase, Sophie, Celeste and Zivko.   All the cats in this week’s group have the gene that gives rise to orange colouring in one format or another. The majority of orange cats are male – statistically only about 5% are female – but it is the orange gene that can give a female cat either tortoiseshell colouring (black and orange) or calico colouring (white and orange – generally with some black). And torties and calicos are always female.

I have noted in other blogs that it’s sometimes hard to distinguish between one black cat and another. That can also be true of the coloured cats – sometimes the identity is clear; sometimes it’s only subtle markings or behaviour that distinguishes one cat from another.

Parry - MW

There are three orange males in Pen 2.  The most friendly and outgoing of the three is Parry, who loves to have human attention, and is always eager to be fussed over. The pale tail-tip is a giveaway of his identity.  Also friendly, but preferably at ground level, is peachy-orange Taffy; he was caged for a while for health reasons, and the Kitty Comforters obviously made him feel happier about human contact.

Taffy - AM

The third orange boy is Pavel – with no white tail-tip, and much more shy than Parry, he will often be found snuggling with someone on an upper shelf in the hut, or hiding out in the undergrowth at the back of the pen.

Pavel & Paula - DA

All the other coloured cats are female.  Paula is classic calico; white fur with strong orange and black markings. She is pretty shy, preferring to hide out with Pavel in the hut, or just out of reach. She will accept treats as long as you don't get too close!

Paula - PH

Minnow is another calico, with much paler colouring; she is outgoing and friendly, and clearly pretty dominant in the colony.

Minnow - MW

The remaining two cats are dilute torties – the strong colouring of regular torties like KitKat, Blaze and Toes in the front courtyard takes on a much more subtle shade in Barbie and Salina. Barbie's colour-markings are clearer than her buddy's, and she is pettable, especially if treats are on offer; Salina is much more muted in colour, and she can be clearly distinguished by a little white dot on her nose; she is much more skittish and wary about interaction with humans.

Barbie - AM

Salina - BC

Sanctuary Manager Janet Reid tells me that we will probably be opening up Pen 2 sometime in the near future. If these ones follow the pattern of other cats from opened pens, we will probably find that the majority will continue to make Pen 2 their base, even as the braver ones start exploring the full range of the back courtyard.
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Blog by Brigid Coult

Photos by Derya Aydede, Brigid Coult, Phaedra Hardman, Angelina Mak & Michele Wright

Barbie

I’ve written about FIV cats Hubert, Fergus and Annie. With Fergus, I noted that to look at him, you’d never know there was anything wrong with him.

Barbie, an FIV positive stray trapped a number of years ago at a RAPS feeding site in North Richmond, has more of the ravaged appearance that people probably expect from an animal with feline immunodeficiency virus.

photo provided by Michele

Still, the fact that she’s been living happily at the sanctuary for the past 8 years or so shows that this little girl’s got staying power. Lisa has described her as a cat who “has done extremely well at the shelter” and Leslie referred to her as “one of our most beloved FIV positive cats....” Both very true.

photo provided by Michele

So few shelters are equipped to take in and care for cats like Barbie that all who've met and grown fond of her can't help but feel thankful that she's been able to find sanctuary here. You can see her in the photos above, out enjoying the sun. The first two shots were even taken by two different people (Michele and myself) on two different days. And yet there's Barbie, nose in the air, enjoying the attention of her visitors and the sun's rays.

photo provided by Michele

Check out Barbie's Story in The Love Blog for more details on how she came to be at the RAPS sanctuary and on FIV positive cats in general.


Update January 28, 2010: Sadly, we had to say good-bye to Barbie girl today. She was loved and knew she was loved. She will be missed.